2013 was an exciting year in the world of mixed martial arts. There were countless memorable moments and fights in the last 12 months. Looking back at this year in the sport, we at MMA Ratings are picking out particular moments from every month that stand out amongst them all.
The fourth quarter of 2013 was one of the most action-packed three months in recent mixed martial arts history. In November, the UFC put on three strong cards, while Bellator 106 featured a fight that may be overlooked as one of the best of the year. Looking at the month of November, these are some of the brightest points of action worth mentioning:
Fight of the Month: Georges St. Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks
Georges St. Pierre faced what many consider his toughest challenge in Johny Hendricks. Experts predicted a close fight, which would come to fruition in the main event at UFC 167.
Hendricks looked like he was taking charge of the fight from the very start, as he was able to land hard shots while scoring takedowns when needed. However, St. Pierre was answering at every point in the round, and made every subsequent round very contentious for those judging cageside or at home. The third round saw Hendricks begin to slow down, either due to fatigue or pulling the reins back to conserve energy. Rounds four and five were just as close, and were split across the board by most people watching the fight.
In the end, the judges would award “Rush” the fight via split decision, which led to an eruption of objections among media experts and fans alike. The aftermath of the fight would see St. Pierre announce that he is walking away from the sport for an extended period of time, and result in Hendricks facing Robbie Lawler for the vacated welterweight title next year.
• Georges St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks (UFC Welterweight Championship): Georges St-Pierre def. Johny Hendricks via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47).
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Knockout of the Month: Vitor Belfort stops the unstoppable Dan Henderson
Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson, UFC Fight Night 32
The scalps continued to pile up for Vitor Belfort in 2013, as he defeated contender after contender in his run towards another shot at the UFC middleweight strap. Dan Henderson was his opponent at UFC Fight Night 32, and even through this fight wasn’t in the middleweight division, Belfort kept the trend going. He needed just 77 seconds to drop and finish off the former PRIDE champion and become the first person to ever stop Dan Henderson in such a fashion. The head kick that was followed up by additional shots gave Belfort his third win by knockout, and perhaps the accolade of being considered the “Fighter of the Year.”
• Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson: Vitor Belfort def. Dan Henderson via TKO (punches) at 1:17 of Round 1.
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Submission of the Month: Chris Holdsworth submits Davey Grant
Chris Holdsworth vs. Davey Grant, The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale
The 18th season of The Ultimate Fighter was about the development of the women’s bantamweight division and the rivalry between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate. The male fighters on the show were overshadowed in a sense by those more interesting dynamics However, Chris Holdsworth would come out of the season as one of the most compelling prospects in recent memory. He solidified those expectations when he wrapped up Davey Grant in the second round of their fight. His submission victory gave him claim to the crown as one of the Season 18 winners of The Ultimate Fighter, as well as placement on the UFC roster, where he could be a star to watch down the line.
• Davey Grant vs. Chris Holdsworth – “TUF 18” men’s tournament final: Chris Holdsworth def. Davey Grant via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:10 of Round 2.
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Controversy of the Month: Eddie Alvarez wins Bellator lightweight title back from Michael Chandler
Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler, Bellator 106
The saga between Eddie Alvarez and Bellator has been well-chronicled. The battle that started when Alvarez wanted to leave the promotion to head to the UFC spilled over into the courtroom, but the two groups were able to come to a reconciliation that brought Alvarez back into the promotion to face Michael Chandler.
A rematch of their 2011 “Fight of the Year” candidate battle, Alvarez and Chandler put on another great show on November 2nd. Both exchanged crisp striking and multiple grappling efforts in what would be a close contest from start to finish. Heading into the decision, most of the MMA media watching the bout had scorecards that gave the fight to Chandler. However, a split decision would go the other way, leading to Alvarez regaining the title he was the first to hold, and giving Chandler his first career loss.
The finish was very controversial because of the implications that it held for both fighters’ careers, and the promotion as a whole. However, Bellator benefits the most, because they have the opportunity to give fight fans their biggest possible fight while “sticking it” to Alvarez if he is unable to defeat Chandler again.
• Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez (LW Championship): Eddie Alvarez def. Michael Chandler via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47).
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November was an excellent month of MMA action. Nearly every weekend featured major cards from multiple promotions. New champions were crowned, and there were a variety of excellent fights featured. These moments were the top in each category for the month of November.
Do you agree with these choices for November 2013? Rate these fights and others, and be sure to make your voice heard, so that your favorite fights can be considered for the 2013 Fans’ Choice Awards.
